THE TRAILBLAZER PROGRAM

Supporting initiatives and ideas to close the gender gap in the outdoors.

Apply for The Trailblazer Program.

This year, we're taking a step closer towards increasing female participation in the outdoors, as we are launching our Trailblazer Program. An opportunity for anyone to apply for support to realize ideas and projects with the ambition to close the gender gap in the outdoors.

Whether you're looking to get more women outdoors locally or need the right gear for your next big adventure, we'd love to support you in whatever way we can.

Want to know more? You can find FAQ for the program here.

Tell us about your project by filling in the application before May 8th. Applications will be reviewed, chosen and then communicated on June 8th. 

We know role models are key in order to find the courage to try something new. But some people didn’t have the luxury of having them.

Instead Hedvig and Elisabeth blazed their own trails. And now, you get to read their stories.

HEDVIG WESSEL

Hedvig Wessel is a professional skier from Norway. She has participated in two Olympic Games and competed on the Freeride World Tour 4 seasons. Today she’s a full-time skier focusing on filming and other projects. We met her in Stockholm for a chat about equality, change and her initiative Sister Summit.

How’d you describe yourself?

From an early age, nature and just being active has been one of my biggest passions. I’ve always had the need to move a lot and the outdoors was always the place where I felt free and good. And of course when I’m skiing. 

Can you describe that feeling?

To me, skiing is pure freedom. I feel that I can be myself, and use my body. It’s like everything is quiet. And my brain stops for a bit. I’m focused. I love sharing that with my friends and my team mates. It’s the best feeling in the world. 

As a woman in what is a very male-dominated industry, have you experienced any challenges?

Honestly, I feel very lucky. I feel that I’ve been supported my whole life as a woman. It has probably a lot to do with my personality as well. I grew up with two brothers, not really knowing and acknowledging that gender was a thing. We all did the same things and I really feel fortunate to have grown up with that lifestyle. And very supportive parents. 

My biggest challenge has always been that there are so few of us. That it’s been hard to find other women to ride with at the same level. It’s a space with fewer women and we have to come together to support each other. And become better together. That’s one of my main drives. To encourage more women to get out there. That’s also a huge part of why we founded Sister Summit. 

Yes, can you tell us about it?

Today the best skiers and snowboarders out there have the money and support to gather all this knowledge and experience, but don’t really share it. And we wanted to change that. Giving everyone those tools. 

We saw an opportunity for women to come together and learn from each other, becoming both better humans and athletes.  Sister summit is about connection and sharing expertise and knowledge. Hopefully creating open, kind, and empowering role models.

I really hope sister summit can help bring around change, with camps and workshops, and film projects around the world. Encouraging women to get out there, not only professionally but in general. Proving there’s a place for us here. 

Do you think there are enough female role models out there?

I think there are enough female role models out there, I really do. At the same time, I think that brands, companies, and the corporate world have a responsibility to bring those role models to the front. I was watching a ski film premiere the other day with ten different films, but no women on stage. More than a thousand people watching, of course, these women won’t think they’ll be up there either. 

It makes me really angry. I know there are a lot of women that should be up on that stage. Because of their skills, their personality, and because of diversity. The organisation is responsible for opening up and trying to get more women to apply. The organisation must ask for it if it doesn’t come naturally for women. Actively inviting them to join.

What do you think can be done to bring around change?

I think brands and companies must look at themselves. The other day I was in Japan at a company where every decision maker was male. I don’t think that’s an environment that fosters change and will make different decisions. I think we collectively need to promote and support women to take place in leadership positions. 

What would you say to girls or women out there curious about the outdoor world?

That sport and the outdoors is not about gender. It’s for everyone. I believe we become better humans when we head out and connect with ourselves and the environment. I’d encourage everyone to get out there, whatever you want to do. There’s always space for you.

"SPORT IS NOT ABOUT GENDER" 

ELISABETH GERRITZEN

Elisabeth Gerritzen, the 2021 World Champion, is a true big mountain skier. Born and raised in Verbier, she quickly advanced from junior competitions to earn a spot on the Freeride World Tour. Elisabeth won the prestigious Xtreme Verbier twice, in 2019 and 2021, in front of the home crowd at the most famous venue of them all, Bec des Rosses.

What made you choose this career path? 

Looking back at the past 10 years, it’s difficult to find a moment that defines a decision-making one. Even though this is probably far from the truth, I have a feeling I slowly slid into this career path, almost accidentally. To be honest, I never believed I was good enough at skiing to make it my job. Yet here I am, collaborating with what I believe to be some of the best brands in the industry. It might sound biased but I’ve made it a point of honour in my life to work with brands (and especially: the people behind the brands) that share my values and views on the world. Peak Performance is one of them and I feel very comfortable representing it on a daily basis.  

What do you like doing outside the slope? 

I quite enjoy being normal and doing normal things. During the winter it’s easy to lose touch with reality, with all the FWT madness and constant attention. I use the rest of the year to remind myself of two important things: I’m not special and yet I’m very privileged to be living this life.  

Do you have any professional goals? 

I’m currently finishing a master’s degree in Law at the University of Geneva. I can’t say I have huge ambitions with this degree but I do wish to make use of it in the future. Law is a special one because it structures a lot of aspects of most people’s lives and yet very few people have access to it. If anything, I’d like to work towards making that knowledge more accessible. 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? 

I believe the biggest challenge for me was the lack of real role models. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there weren’t good female skiers to look up to. There were plenty. But I was never able to fully identify with them. We are still fed a very monochrome image of what a female skier in the industry should be. Pretty, smiling, not speaking up, grateful to be there. I grew up needing to see more authenticity and I struggled to find it.  

And what has been your strategy to overcome them? 

After playing the game for a few years, trying to fit in that mold just didn’t seem viable for me anymore. So I guess my strategy has been to embody what I never had, to be myself without (too many) concessions. I try to be an authentic skier and person, whatever that means. 

What do you think could be done in order to encourage women to participate in outdoor sports? 

I think the industry needs to work hard on diversifying who they “let in”. As I mentioned previously, we are force-fed a very specific image of womanhood, one that I believe very few people can actually identify with. Of course, there are numerous other systemic and structural reasons for the lack of women in outdoor sports, which has nothing to do with the industry itself. But I think Peak Performance has a responsibility to be at the forefront of this battle, as it’s a brand that a lot of people follow and pay attention to.   

AMANDA TIMM

Amanda Timm makes her living as a science teacher, but she describes herself as a total “activityholic”. She loves exploring the great outdoors through pretty much any kind of activity. In 2011, Amanda participated in a freeride competition, where she caught an edge after jumping off a cliff and tumbled into a tree. Despite the setback of being paralyzed from the chest down after that accident, Amanda’s love for skiing remained. Just 10 months after the injury, she started sit-skiing, and has been pushing the limits ever since.”

How’d you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as an activityholic. I need to constantly be doing something and ideally, that thing is outside with friends. 

Was freeskiing an obvious choice? Do you have any other dreams you’d like to pursue?

I grew up surrounded by racers but chose to freeski. I was lucky enough to have the race skills due to the constant coaching from family but I took that to the big mountain ski world where I had a ton of fun and did great until I had my accident. After breaking my back in a big mountain ski competition, I went first went back to the racing world, before returning to freeskiing. 

My dream now is to continue to push the limits in my sport but also ensure that I can continue to ski forever. I don’t want skiing to be a memory, I want it to be a lifestyle.

What do you like doing outside the slope?

I do everything you can imagine, I just don’t do it how you imagine. In the summer I am a huge biker, downhill and gravel, I golf, climb, and waterski. In the winter I downhill ski a lot but I probably cross-country ski just as much. I don’t really care what I’m doing as long as I’m outside and with friends, that is when I am the happiest. Off-season to me is just a different sports season.

Do you have any advice for someone dreaming about following in your footsteps?

Don’t give up. The number of people that have told me and still tell me I can’t do something is outstanding. You are the only person that can set your limits, set them high.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry?

In sit skiing, all equipment is built for a male body. This means that my equipment is often overbuilt and weighs half my weight. It sucks. My strategies to overcome equipment have been to modify a lot of my gear or pay for custom gear. That means a big price tag is not realistic for a lot of people, but it’s the only way I can get things down to my size.

Have you felt there have been people to turn to for advice?

Honestly no, there aren’t any female sit skiers out there in the freeskiing world. This makes it hard to get advice or any guidance.

It sucked not having anyone to look up to growing up and always wondering what the possibilities were. By having people to look up to you know what limits to push.

Do you experience any differences in how men and women are treated in the industry?

Men are always praised more. I can ski a line that a male has skied and they are always celebrated more than a female is. 

If you’d been able to give yourself any advice ten years ago, what would it be?

Tomorrow you’ll be stronger. Every day that feels like you should give up will lead to an amazing day. No one is great every day, everyone will feel horrible before they feel good doing something.

What do you think could be done to encourage women to participate in outdoor sports?

Promoting positive role models! Highlighting female athletes who excel in outdoor sports can inspire other women to get involved and pursue their interests in activities.

Do you have any role model(s)?

Tonje Kvivik. Have you met her, she’s not just an amazing skier pushing the limits but also super hot. She also just won woman skier of the year because she’s a boss! Just wait until you hear her laugh.